Estimated reading time 4 minutes
Table of Contents
Why Use the Guitar to Learn How to Sing in Tune Like an A Cappella Singer?
Do you want to know a good way to train your ear to harmonize in tune? All you need is a guitar. Read more to learn how to sing in tune like an a cappella singer.
- When open D tuning is fine-tuned using harmonics, it makes playing the guitar a lot of fun. However, it also fashions a powerful ear training tool to help vocalists sing in tune.
- The guitar tuning creates a model of what a well-tuned chord should sound like. It helps singers who struggle with intonation to experience good harmony for themselves.
- Singing to the piano teaches vocalists to sing vague harmonies, because piano technicians tune the piano to equal temperament. Equal temperament compromises some of the harmonic intervals in order to limit the piano to just twelve notes. The piano makes a poor harmonic sound model.
- The fine-tuned guitar fills the gap, providing a much-needed harmonic sound model.
Alternately, you can use sing-along soundtracks to learn how to sing in tune:
This article uses technical musical terms. For definitions, see the Glossary at the end of the post.
A Cappella Group Video
How to Tune the Guitar
To tune the guitar, please refer to the blog article:
The post also shows how to play the chords in open D. After tuning the guitar to open D, you can use it as an effective sound model for singers.
Exercises for Mastering Singing in Tune Like an A Cappella Vocalist
Mobile users: for best results reading the music, tilt your screen 90o to the right.
The above vocal exercise starts with the notes of the top four strings of the fine-tuned open D guitar tuning.
- The sopranos match their note to the first string, the altos to the second string, the tenors to the third string, and the basses to the fourth string.
- The exercise fits the vocal range of each voice type fairly well. Nevertheless, the basses will probably need to drop out on the last three bars.
- Once the singers have the exercise down, switch to the popular vocal warm-ups. For example, one warm-up has singers changing the vowels (Mee, Meh, Mah, Moh, Moo) while singing the same notes.
- The guitarist can play a selected string to bring out one part if the vocal section in question needs help with their part.
Alternately, singers working by themselves can work on singing different parts of the chord by switching which string they are singing with. Also, it is good ear training for flexible pitch instrumentalists as well.
Tips for Mastering Singing in Tune Like an A Cappella Singer
Take time tuning up the vocal harmonies.
- Notice how the chords are all whole notes and the tempo is a slow 55 beats per minute (bpm). This allows the singers enough time to get the chords in tune. Feel free to hold it for longer if necessary. For best results, sing without vibrato.
- The guitarist shifts the chord up one fret each time the chorus sings the next higher harmony. The guitar can also accompany songs. If the guitarist gets drowned out by the chorus, he can play with light to moderate distortion.
- Solfege (Do, Re, Mi) can be an effective method for working on sight singing and melodic tuning. However, it will not train the singer’s sense of harmonic intonation.
- Harmonic sound models, provided by retuned synths and guitars can teach you how to sing in tune like an a cappella singer.
For those people who are not comfortable retuning instruments:
© 2020 Geoffrey Keith
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Glossary
How Long Do You Take to Memorize a Piece of Piano Music?
“How long do you take to memorize a piece of piano music?” It’ll vary from person to person how long it’ll take. I’ve known musicians who can memorize a piece of music after just one listening. For most of my students, it takes a half-dozen to a dozen listenings to just start learning a piece, much less memorize it. This means that for most musicians, memorizing a piece of music will be a process. Keep reading to get tips to help you memorize your music better and more quickly. Estimated reading time 2 minutes.
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What’s the Best Lesson You’ve Had with Your Music Teacher?
What’s the best lesson you’ve had with your music teacher? The answer to this can take many forms. However, one of the most powerful and important experiences you can have in a music lesson revolves around a concept called ignition. What is ignition and how does it work? Keep reading to find out. Estimated reading time 2 minutes.
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Sound Like a Rock Star with Open G Tuning
Do you want to capture the sound of 70s rock guitar? Amp settings, effects, pickups, and strings all play a role in crafting your guitar sound. Nevertheless, the tuning you choose remains an important factor in your guitar sound that you might have overlooked. You will also learn the song “Brown Sugar.” Read more to learn how to sound like a rock star with open G tuning. Estimated reading time 3 minutes.
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How to Graduate from the Color Coded Sheet Music: Part 2
Has your child or student shown readiness to move on from color coded music notes? The "How to Graduate from Color Coded Music Notes" series will explain how it works. Read more to learn how to transition from the color coding to the clef mnemonics, empowering students to graduate from the color coded sheet music. Estimated reading time 4 minutes.
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